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Methylmalonic acid values in healthy Dutch children

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Abstract

Background

Plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA) is a specific marker for functional cobalamin deficiency. This deficiency can give rise to non-specific but serious symptoms in childhood such as developmental delay, convulsions and failure to thrive and may even lead to irreversible neurological damage.

Aim of the study

To analyse plasma MMA concentrations in Dutch children and to evaluate possible factors influencing its concentration.

Methods

A number of 186 Dutch children aged 0–19 years were analysed cross-sectionally. Blood was collected to measure MMA, total homocysteine (tHcy), cobalamin (Cbl) and serum creatinine concentrations. In addition, information about medical history, age and sex was recorded.

Results

The geometric mean (GM) plasma MMA concentration was 0.17 µmol/l (95% CI 0.07–0.42) and the GM tHcy was 6.6 µmol/l (95% CI 3.1–13.9). There is a slight positive correlation between plasma MMA and age in children >1 year (r = 0.211, P < 0.05). Plasma MMA concentrations were significantly higher in children with low Cbl concentrations. No significant difference in MMA, Cbl, tHcy or creatinine concentrations between sexes could be observed. Regression analysis showed that Cbl was the strongest determinant of plasma MMA (regression coefficient −0.414, P < 0.05). The association between MMA and Cbl is stronger at increasing age (P for trend 0.045).

Conclusions

Plasma Cbl is the main determinant of MMA in this group of Dutch children. The strength of the association increased with increasing age.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Diny Oppenraay-van Emmerzaal and Per Ueland for their efforts contributing to the determination of laboratory values.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Paediatrics, Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Marije Hogeveen

  2. Children’s Heart Centre, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Ingrid van Beynum

  3. Dept. of Paediatrics, Laboratory of Paediatrics and Neurology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Arno van Rooij & Leo Kluijtmans

  4. Dept. of Endocrinology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Martin den Heijer

  5. Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Martin den Heijer

  6. Metabolic Unit, Dept. of Clinical Chemistry, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Henk Blom

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  1. Marije Hogeveen
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  2. Ingrid van Beynum
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Correspondence to Marije Hogeveen.

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Hogeveen, M., van Beynum, I., van Rooij, A. et al. Methylmalonic acid values in healthy Dutch children. Eur J Nutr 47, 26–31 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-007-0692-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-007-0692-5

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